title: Practical use of immunosuppressive drugs in autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
abstract: Immunosuppressive drugs are frequently used in the treatment of autoimmune rheumatic diseases when more conventional therapy, including corticosteroids, fail to control the manifestations of disease. The practical use of these drugs in rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and vasculitis (including Wegener's granulomatosis and Sjögren's syndrome) are reviewed. The focus is on the indications for the administration of these agents and proper monitoring of their effect on disease activity.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immunology Section, Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital, San Antonio, TX.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Jesus
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Talal
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy; D009220:Myositis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents